CITYSCAPE PART SIX

Explore the fascinating historic cities in the World, famous for its fascinating architectures & magnificent buildings. Here is a list of them.

North America

1. Quebec City (Canada)

Quebec City and the Chateau Frontenac, view from Lévis, Canada [ Photo by Bernard Gagnon / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Quebec (or ; French: Québec  ), also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City (French: Ville de Québec) is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about 233 kilometres (145 mi) to the southwest. As of the 2006 Canadian Census, the city has a population of 491,142, and the metropolitan area has a population of 715,515. The Citadelle is still in use by the military and is also a tourist attraction. The narrowing of the Saint Lawrence River approximate to the city's promontory, Cap-Diamant (Cape Diamond), and Lévis, on the opposite bank, provided the name given to the city, Kébec, an Algonquin word meaning "where the river narrows". (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

South America

2. Potosí (Bolivia)

Potosi with Cerro Rico [ Photo by Gerd Breitenbach / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Potosí is a city and the capital of the department of Potosí in Bolivia. It is one of the highest cities in the world by elevation at a nominal 4,090 metres (13,420 ft). and it was the location of the Spanish colonial mint, now the National Mint of Bolivia. Potosí lies beneath the Cerro de Potosí—sometimes referred to as the Cerro Rico ("rich mountain")—a mountain popularly conceived of as being "made of" silver ore, which has always dominated the city. The Cerro Rico is the reason for Potosí's historical importance, since it was the major supply of silver for Spain during the period of the New World Spanish Empire. This silver was taken by llama and mule train to the Spanish Main from where it was then taken to Spain on the Spanish treasure fleets. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

3. Sucre (Bolivia)

Historic City of Sucre, Bolivia [ Photo by Skykid 123ve / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Sucre, also known historically as Charcas, La Plata and Chuquisaca (population 247,300 in 2006) is the constitutional capital of Bolivia and the capital of the department of Chuquisaca. Located in the south-central part of the country, Sucre lies at an elevation of 2750m (9,000 ft). This relatively high altitude gives the city a cool temperate climate year-round. The city attracts thousands of tourists every year thanks to its well-conserved downtown with buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries. Nestled at the foot of the twin hills of Churuquella and Sika Sika, Sucre is the gateway to numerous small villages that date from the colonial era, the most well-known of which is Tarabuco, home of the colorful "Pujllay" festival held each March. Most of these villagers are members of one of the indigenous ethnicities. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

4. Ouro Preto (Brazil)

The Praça Tiradentes, view from the old School of Mines. Ouro Preto, state of Minas Gerais, Brasil [ Photo byAlvesgaspar / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Ouro Preto (from Portuguese, Black Gold) is a city in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, a former colonial mining town located in the Serra do Espinhaço mountains and designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO because of its outstanding Baroque architecture. 18th- and 19th-century churches decorated with gold and the sculptured works of Aleijadinho make Ouro Preto a prime tourist destination. Founded at the end of the 17th century, Ouro Preto (meaning Black Gold) was originally called Vila Rica, or "rich village," the focal point of the gold rush and Brazil's golden age in the 18th century under Portuguese rule. The tremendous wealth from gold mining in the 18th century created a city which attracted the intelligentsia of Europe. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

5. Salvador Historic Centre (Brazil)

View over harbor area and Old Customs House in Salvador, Bahia state, Brazil. [ Photo by Adam Jones / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

The Historic Centre (known in Brazilian Portuguese as The Pelourinho) is a historic neighborhood located in the western zone of Salvador, Bahia. It was the city's center during the Portuguese Colonial Period, and was named for the whipping post (Pelourinho means Pillory) in its central plaza where African slaves received punishment for various infractions, as well as for disciplinary purposes. In the 1990s, a major restoration effort resulted in making the area a highly desirable tourist attraction. The Historic Centre of Salvador da Bahia, frequently called the Pelourinho, is extremely rich in historical monuments dating from the 17th through the 19th centuries. Salvador was the first colonial capital of Brazil and the city is one of the oldest in the New World (founded in 1549 by Portuguese settlers). (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

6. Cusco (Peru)

Central Square, Cusco, Peru [ Photo by Sascha Grabow www.saschagrabow.com / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Cuzco; Quechua: Qusqu and Qosqo  ) is a city in southeastern Peru, near the Urubamba Valley of the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cuzco Region as well as the Cuzco Province. In 2007, the city had a population of 358,935 which was triple the figure of 20 years ago. Located on the eastern end of the Knot of Cuzco, its altitude is around 3,400 m (11,200 ft). It is a major tourist destination and receives almost 1.5 million visitors a year. It is designated as the Historical Capital of Peru by the Constitution of Peru. The city fell to the sphere of Huáscar in the division of the empire after the death of Huayna Capac in 1527. It was captured by the generals of Atahualpa in April 1532 in the Battle of Quipaipan. Nineteen months later, Spanish explorers invaded the city (see battle of Cuzco). (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Central America & Caribbean

7. Havana (Cuba)

Cathedrals are often at the centre of a town. Cathedral of St. Christopher of Havana, Cuba is on a busy square. Cathedral of Havana. San Cristóbal Cathedral. The Cathedral of Saint Christopher in Havana. [ Photo by Krasivaja / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Havana (Spanish: La Habana, Spanish : , is the capital city, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city is one of the 15 Cuban provinces. The city/province has 2.1 million inhabitants, the largest city in Cuba and the second largest in the Caribbean region, after Santo Domingo. The city extends mostly westward and southward from the bay, which is entered through a narrow inlet and which divides into three main harbours: Marimelena, Guanabacoa, and Atarés. The sluggish Almendares River traverses the city from south to north, entering the Straits of Florida a few miles west of the bay. Numerous luxury hotels, casinos and nightclubs were constructed during the 1930s to serve Havana's burgeoning tourist industry, strongly rivaling Miami. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

8. Historic Town of Guanajuato (Mexico)

Historic Town of Guanajuato [ Photo by Anders Lagerås / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Guanajuato is a city and municipality in central Mexico and the capital of the state of the same name. It is located in a narrow valley, which makes the streets of the city narrow and winding. Most are alleys that cars cannot pass through, and some are long sets of stairs up the mountainsides. Many of the city’s thoroughfares are partially or fully underground. The historic center of the city is filled with colonial area mansions, churches and civil constructions built with pink or green sandstone and small plazas. The city was the result of the discovery of mines in the mountains that surround it. These mines were so rich that the city was one of the most influential during the colonial period. One of the mines, La Valenciana, accounted for two-thirds of the world’s silver production at its height. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Europe

9. Graz (Austria)

The Grazer Rathaus (City Hall of Graz) in Austria. [ Photo by Tamirhassan / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Grazis the second-largest city in Austria after Vienna and the capital of the federal state of Styria. On 1 April 2010 it had a population of 291,890 (of which 258,605 had principal residence status). Graz has a long tradition as a student city: its six universities have more than 44,000 students. Its "Old Town" is one of the best-preserved city centres in Central Europe. In 1999, Graz was added to the UNESCO list of World Cultural Heritage Sites, and the site was extended in 2010 by Schloss Eggenberg. Graz was sole Cultural Capital of Europe for 2003 and got the title of a City of Culinary Delights in 2008. Graz is situated on the Mur River in the southeast of Austria. It is about 200 km (120 mi) southwest of Vienna. The nearest larger urban center is Maribor in Slovenia which is about 50 km (31 mi) away. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

10. Salzburg (Austria)

The city of Salzburg, view from the top of the fortress. [ Photo by DAVID ILIFF / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Salzburg (Austro-Bavarian: Såizburg; literally: "Salt Castle") is the fourth-largest city in Austria and the capital city of the federal state of Salzburg. Salzburg is a tourist favourite, with the number of tourists outnumbering locals by a large margin in peak times. In addition to Mozart's birthplace noted above, other notable places include: Salzburg's "Old Town" (Altstadt) has internationally renowned baroque architecture and one of the best-preserved city centres north of the Alps. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. The city is noted for its Alpine setting. The Life of Saint Rupert credits the 8th-century saint with the city's rebirth. When Theodo of Bavaria asked Rupert to become bishop c. 700, Rupert reconnoitered the river for the site of his basilica. Rupert chose Juvavum, ordained priests, and annexed the manor Piding. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

11. Vienna (Austria)

Naturhistorisches Museum at Maria-Theresa-Square [ Photo by Doko Ing. Mgr. Jozef Kotulič / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Vienna (; German: Wien ;) is the capital of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.7 million (2.4 million within the metropolitan area, more than 25% of Austria's population), and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre. It is the 10th-largest city by population in the European Union. Vienna is host to many major international organizations, such as the United Nations and OPEC. Many concert venues offer concerts aimed at tourists, featuring popular highlights of Viennese music (particularly the works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Johann Strauss). Vienna lies in the east of Austria and is close to the borders of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. These regions work together in a European Centrope border region. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

12. Brussels (Belgium)

Guildhalls on the Grand Place [ Photo by Ben2 / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Brussels; Dutch: Brussel,  ), officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region (French: Région de Bruxelles-Capitale, Dutch: Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest), is the de facto capital of Belgium and of the European Union (EU). It is also the largest urban area in Belgium, comprising 19 municipalities, including the municipality of the City of Brussels, which is the de jure capital of Belgium, in addition to the seat of the French Community of Belgium and of the Flemish Community. Numerous friteries are spread throughout the city, and in tourist areas, fresh, hot, waffles are also sold on the street. Since the end of the Second World War, Brussels has been a main center for international politics. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)